Extension-step for cars



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. H. BROWN. EXIENSIONv STEP POB. GARS.

No. 435,731. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. H. BRGWN. EXTENSION STEP POR GARS.

N0. 435,731. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

"www" UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

RUFUS H. BROVN, OF MARION, VIRGINIA.

EXTENSION-STEP FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,731, dated September 2, 1890.

Application filed April 5, 1890. Serial No. 346,643. (No modeLl To all whom t 11mg/ concern:

Be it known thatl, RUFUs H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Smyth and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Extension-Step for Railway-Coaches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in extension-steps for railway-coaches.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive construction of eX- tension-step for railway-coaches adapted to be readily lowered to its operative position and capable of being automatically returned to its folded position by the moving ofthe car.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an cxtensiolrstep constructed in accordancewith this invention and shown in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the parts being folded. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. et is a detail View of the hinged pawl. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the steps of the railway-coach, the lower step of which has hinged to it an eX- tension-step 2, which is connected with the lower step 3 by a rod 4. The rod 4 is journaled in suitable bearings 5 and is approximately U-shaped and has its ends G bent laterally and journaled in bearings 7, which are formed by plates 8, that have their outer ends bent upon themselves and forming eyes to receive the rod.

The extension-step has secured to it a frame 9, which consists of side bars 10, which are similar in construction, and have their ends 11 bolted to the lower face of the extensionstep and have their upper ends 12 bent inward and pivoted to the arm 1 3 of a rockshaft l-t. The roclcshaft 141C is journaled in suitable brackets 15, mounted upon the lower face of one of the ear-steps, and the said rock-shaft is provided at its end opposite to the arm with a grooved pulley 1G, which has vertically movable, to be lowered and brought into operative position. The lever 18 is provided with a quadrant-plate 18X, which has its periphery grooved to receive the chain i and which operates in a slot in the riser of the step. The extension-step is normally held in its vertical or folded position by a spiral spring 19, which has one end fastened to a grooved wheel 32 and its other end secured to the carsteps.

The extension-step is held in its operative or lowered position by a hinged pawl 20, that is journaled in perforated ears 21 of a bracket 22. The pawl 2O is bent longitudinally along its center and has its sides 23 arranged atan angle to each other and provided with shoulders 24, adapted to engage the upper inwardlybent end 12 of the frame 9 and hold the extension-step in its lower or operative position and prevent the saine being accidentally raised by the spring 19, which rotates the rock-shaft. The hinged pawl 2O is actuated by a spring 25, that has one end secured to the hinged pawlin advance of the pivotal point and has its other end fastened to the car-step. The sides of the hinged pawl are beveled from the shoulders 24 to the free end of the pawl and are adapted to be engaged by a rod 2G to depress the spring-actuated pawl and carry its shoulders out of engagement with the frame 9 of the extension-step and permit the latter to be folded beneath the car-steps by the spring 19. The rod 26 is hinged to the pintle 27 of the pawl 20 and lies in the bend of the pawl beneath and away from the inwardlybent arm of the fralne O when the extension-step is lowered and the said arm is engaged by the shoulders. The free end of the hinged rod rests upon the ground when the step is lowered and is adapted to automatically raise the step when the train starts. As the car moves, the rod 2G drags upon the ground and is caused to engage one of the beveled sides 23 and depress thc pawl and carry the latter out of IOC engagement with the frame 9 and allow the spring 19 to raise the extension step and carry it to its folded position beneath the car-step, and 4the pawl after being released from engagement with the frame 9 is acted upon by the spring 25, which raises the pawl and carries the hin ge-rod upward against the frame 9, and the parts are out of the way and not liable to become broken.

The extension-step is hinged to the loweil step 3 of the car and swings vertically; but it may be arranged to slidevertically, as I have illustrated in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, and Idesire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, as I may,without departing from the spirit of the invention, make minor changes therein.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the sides of the frame 9 are mounted in guides 28 and slide vertically and have formed integral With lthem extension-bars 29, which are guided in a bracket 30, and thev same frame is designed to be provided with a hinged pawl and an operating-rod similar to that heretofore described.

The extension-step is operated by a lever 18, a chain, and a grooved pulley, which is mounted upon a shaft, and the other end of said shaft is provided with a grooved pulley 33, upon which is wound a chain 34, that is secured to the upper ends of the extensionbars 29, whereby whenthe shaft is rotated the step 2 will be lowered.

It will readily be seen that the extensionstep and mechanism for operating the same are substantial, inexpensive, and easily operated, and are capable of automatically folding as the train starts, and can be readily applied to the ordinary construction of car-steps without necessitating change of the latter.

Having thus describedv my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the vertically-movable eXtension-step, the frame 9, secured to the step, the hinged pawl arranged to engage the frame 9 and hold the extension-step in its -operative position, and the rod arranged to hinged to the car-steps l, the frame 9, secured to the extension-step, the rock-shaft provided at one end with an arm pivoted to the frame 9 and having its other end provided with a pulley, and the lever 1S and grooved quadrant connected with the pulley and the hinged pawl, substantially as described.

' 4. The combination of the extension-step 2,

hinged to the car-step, the frame 9,secured to the eXteusion-step,the rock-shaft having its arm pivoted to the frame and provided with a grooved pulley, the lever and grooved quadrant connected with the pulley, the hinged pawl mounted in the bracket and provided with shoulders arranged to engage the frame and having its sides bent at an angle and beveled or sloping, and the hinged rod arranged between the sides of the pawl and the springs, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the extension-step attached to the car-steps, the frame 9, secured to the step, the slides attached to the carsteps, the lever and grooved quadrant, the rock-shaft and grooved pulleysl connect-ed with the lever and spring, the hinged pawl mounted in the bracket and provided with shoulders arranged to engage the frame and having its disk bent at an angle and beveled or sloping, the hinged rod arranged between the sides ot the pawl, and the springs, pulleys, and chains, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUFUS H. BROIVN. 

